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Give
Children the Responsibility |
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So in the same way, when it comes to the educational system
we have big reform in Norway now but children are not being asked.
I asked the Education Minister, how can you do this? You will never
ever manage to go through with this reform in practice, it will
all be paperwork if children are not involved in the planning. I
know because I have hundreds of phone calls and letters about the
education system from 8 years, 9 years, 10 years, who are eager
and willing to change and be a part of the education system. And
the Convention has Article 12, you know, the participation article
it is called and when we asked children about participation they
say they have a fresh and different perspective in all that. But
also it contributes to identity development, self esteem, empowerment
and remember it is our lives you are talking about, they say. So
give us the space, give us some responsibility and we will produce.
They also have an agenda for development. In Norway we have 429
principalities around the country which are very much independent
from the State more and more and half of these principalities see
children as a problem and expensive. Now we are starting to change
that because we are working in child friendly communities. The children
are an investment and children are possibilities. But as long as
we have the image of the child which is negative, born evil and
continues as evil until its 18 and married we will never change
anything. So the ultimate goal is, from the CRC perspective is that
children will actually be exercising from that, to exercise their
rights not only receiving them and that includes acting responsibly
and not being ignored and not struggling in powerlessness. |
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